State Medical Board Adopts Schipske's Proposals to Expand Public Access

Medical Board of California Adopts Schipske’s ProposalsTo Pilot Teleconferencing To Increase Public Access

Sacramento, CA – The Medical Board of California at its quarterly meeting in Sacramento today approved piloting teleconferencing of its meetings to enable meaningful participation by members of the public who cannot attend the meeting.  The proposal was developed by Board member, Gerrie Schipske and presented as a pilot to determine how best the public can view the meetings on the internet while providing public comments as items are debated via teleconferencing.

“This is a positive step forward in the process of engaging healthcare consumers in the work of their state medical board,” says Schipske, who serves as a public member appointed by the Senate Rules Committee. “Even though the Board rotates its meetings between northern and southern California, this is a big state and most consumers cannot travel to the meeting sites. Teleconferencing and live video streaming brings the meetings to them.”

Schipske also authored a requirement that Board members must disclose any communications with interested parties outside a board meeting.

The Medical Board of California is a 15 member board charged with the licensing and disciplining of California physicians and certain other healthcare professionals. Schipske has served on the Board since 2007.